Feds help MBTA search passengers at Alewife T station

If you had your bag searched Thursday morning by an official from the federal Transportation Security Administration at Alewife T station, it won't be the last time.

David L. Harris

If you had your bag searched Thursday morning by an official from the federal Transportation Security Administration at Alewife T station, it won't be the last time.

The exercise, conducted jointly with the MBTA, was only practice though. Officials from the TSA screened baggage for exlposives and monitored drivers coming into and out of the station's parking garage, according to Ann Davis, spokeswoman for the TSA. The exercises were repeated at five different stations around the area, including Braintree.

"It could be repeated in the future," she said.

But you won't know about it ahead of time: "They're typically launched on an unannounced basis," said Davis.